1 Agorá
2 Akrópoli (Acropolis)
3 Ethnikó Archaiologikó Mouseío (National Archeological Museum)
4 Kéntro Meletón Akropóleos (Acropolis Study Centre)
5 Lykavittós (Lykabettos Hill)
6 Mouseío Ellinikís Laografias (Museum of Greek Folk Art)
7 Mouseío Ellinikón Mousikon Orgánon (Museum of Greek Musical Instruments)
8 Mouseío Kykladikís kai Archaías Ellinikís Téchnis (Museum of Cycladic Art)
9 Pláka
10 Stádio (Olympic Stadium)
The Museum of Greek Folk Art has an excellent collection, which gives a fascinating insight into Greek folk traditions.
Greece preserves its folk traditions well, both in everyday life and in museums such as this one, in the Pláka district. On the ground floor are embroidery displays from the different island groups and also from the mainland. Ali Pasha's court at loannina exerted a strong influence on local embroidery, importing rich fabrics from the Near East and from as far away as Iran and Uzbekistan.
The Mezzanine displays some ornate spinning wheels, shuttles and spindles, together with examples of work, such as a pillowcase woven by nomadic Sarakatsan shepherds. There are some bread seals, for both family and religious occasions (though frequently in Greece, the one is the other), including one that imprints on the loaf 'The one who eats of my body and drinks of my blood'. There are also several masquerade costumes, the most famous of which is probably the Skyros Goat Dancer, the Yeros, with his masked face, sheepskin coat and dangling bells. A permanent display on the same floor is dedicated to the folk artist Theofilos Hatzimichael (c1868-1934). Especially worth seeing is the Theofilos room, dating from 1924-30, from a house on Lesvos, where every inch of wall space is covered in primitive but vibrant paintings, including Alexander the Great, folk hero Katsantonis and political hero Kolokotronis. Silverware includes earrings and necklaces, belts and buckles, and religious objects such as a Bible, printed in Venice in 1754, but with a Greek-made silver binding showing the Resurrection. On the ground floor is a small shop selling some craft items and a good selection of books.Address: Kydathinaíon 17
Phone: 321-3018, 322-9031
Open: Tue-Sun 10-2. Closed public holidays
Bus: 024, 230
Metro: Syntagma
Accessible: Few
Admission: Moderate
Other: Acropolis, Anafiótika, Hellenic Children's Museum, Museum of Greek Children's Art, Pláka
Practical: Special exhibitions
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